Another Day of Infamy

The most surprising thing about the election is that I, generally the most cynical of men, gave too much credit to the American people. Although I only lost a ten dollar bet on the election, I was sorely tempted to wager a lot more. Fortunately, I couldn’t afford to risk it, even on what I regarded as a pretty sure thing.

The truth is that when Dick Morris began talking about a Romney landslide, I began to entertain doubts. I’ve never forgotten the way that Bill O’Reilly’s favorite oracle insisted in 2010 that Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina were going to trounce Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer. But I figured that even a blind pig sometimes stumbles across an acorn and a broken clock is right twice every 24 hours.

I realize that a lot of Republicans will insist that Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich would have won the election, but I respectfully submit that they’re nuts. Romney ran a decent campaign and certainly gave the voters a perfectly fine alternative to the left-wing radical who pretended that birth control pills were more important than an economy on life support, a nuclear Iran, national security leaks to the NY Times and a massacre in Benghazi. What it says about America’s future is almost too horrifying to contemplate.

When in the final weeks of the campaign, Obama had to call on a weasel like Bill Clinton to sell him to Ohio and Pennsylvania, while Romney had Billy Graham’s heartfelt endorsement, I figured it was a done deal.

I admit to experiencing a loss of self-esteem after suffering such a body blow to my ego. Generally, I get these things right. In 2008, I predicted Obama’s margin of victory. In 2004, I not only predicted that Bush would defeat Kerry, but came within four electoral votes of nailing it.

But the truth of the matter is that I feel far worse about America. The country teetered on the edge of the precipice and had a chance to step back. Instead, like a colony of lemmings, they surged forward and over the edge.

In 2008, knowing what I knew about Obama, I felt all was lost. That was especially the case when the Democrats wound up with super majorities in the House and Senate. I felt the Republicans might never recover. But Obama and his stooges in Congress so badly overplayed their cards that the GOP came storming back in 2010, thanks mainly to their revulsion with ObamaCare. I felt that America had just barely dodged the bullet.

Now, however, I think the outlook couldn’t be bleaker. With the birth rate of blacks and Hispanics far outdistancing that of whites, and with more and more women electing to remain single and, like gays, identifying themselves solely on the basis of their sexual organs, I really can’t envision America ever again electing someone who, like Romney, champions America’s traditions, the Constitution, free enterprise, religion, a strong military and individual responsibility.

Because the majority of Americans have now openly declared their preference for European-style socialism, and because we have a president and a Senate with a mandate to continue throwing money at public sector unions, minorities and the young, we can pretty much count on Greek-style riots in the streets as we pass the point of no return when we simply won’t have enough money to pay for ObamaCare, state and federal pensions, Social Security, Medicare and Michelle Obama’s vacations.

Considering how close the election was in several states, one has to wonder how large a part Hurricane Sandy played in Obama’s victory. It did, after all, give him the opportunity to appear presidential, to walk around New Jersey pretending to be deeply concerned. Moreover, thanks to having a St. Bernard named Christie constantly at his side, licking his hand, it even managed to make Obama appear to be bi-partisan for the first time in recorded history.

I am on record as never having understood why conservatives ever regarded Christie to be the answer to their prayers or why Ann Coulter kept urging him to seek the GOP nomination. Although I acknowledge that my reputation as a political pundit has suffered greatly as a result of recent events, I will still venture out on a very narrow limb and predict that by the time Gov. Christie waddles for re-election, he will have a (D) after his name.

November 6, 2012, is a day that will live in infamy. Having said that, being the Pollyanna I tend to be, I have sought something positive to say about the gruesome outcome. I’m afraid the best I can come up with is that for the foreseeable future I will continue to have an endless supply of grist for my busy little mill.

About Burt Prelutsky

Burt Prelutsky, a very nice person once you get to know him, has been a humor columnist for the L.A. Times and a movie critic for Los Angeles magazine. As a freelancer, he has written for the New York Times, Washington Times, TV Guide, Modern Maturity, Emmy, Holiday, American Film, and Sports Illustrated.
For television, he has written for Dragnet, McMillan & Wife, MASH, Mary Tyler Moore, Rhoda, Bob Newhart, Family Ties, Dr. Quinn and Diagnosis Murder. In addition, he has written a batch of terrific TV movies. View Burt’s IMDB profile.
Talk about being well-rounded, he plays tennis and poker... and rarely cheats at either.
He lives in the San Fernando Valley, where he takes his marching orders from a wife named Yvonne and a dog named Angel.Author website: http://www.burtprelutsky.com/

I’ve been yakking to anyone who’d listen about what a creep Christrie is. He acts tough but he can be bought by a pat on the back from Barack Obama. What a dumb lard ass.

Prelutsky1540

Brendan: I knew Morris to be a fraud ever since he predicted that Angle would defeat Reid and that Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina would bury Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer in 2010. He should be retired.

The Tea Party has its heart in the right place, but they continue to ignore William F. Buckley’s advice about voting for the most conservative candidate ,,,,,who can win an election. It’s time they began using their head some of the time and not be quite so dependent on their heart.

Burt

brendan horn

Burt,
Here are some of my election thoughts:
I think America can officially be classified as an insane country. We are trying the same thing over again and many Americans are expecting different results this time around.

Dick Morris is worst prophet I have ever seen. He is worse than some of these guys who predict the end of the world on specific dates.

Chris Christie is officially very bad luck for Republicans. I will not be voting for him for president anytime soon.

And the Tea Party should no longer have influence in persuading Republicans who to pick for the Senate. They have lost the Republicans at least four seats and are to blame for the power of the woefully inept Harry Reid for the next two years. This should not be forgotten.

DrT

I am saddened by the election
results. Healthcare in the US has been given a shove down a slippery slope
during this administration. In their zeal to fix the problems that existed, and
do it quickly, the proponents of Obamacare have set us on a path that will take
away much of what I value most in my profession… caring
for the patient.

The construct of the system rewards electronics, protocols, lower paid non
medically trained employees, “cookbook”-type treatments (one-size
fits all) . . .all of which are deemed efficient . . . to replace the personal
encounter with a physician or nurse who listens to you, cares about you,
examines YOU and has a stake in your recovery and wellness (other than not
being sued).

The value of the therapeutic relationship, acting as a “healer of
persons”, seeing them as a whole (physical, emotional, and spiritual
whole) rather than merely treating a disease the person has, is not considered cost
effective, and therefore has no place in socialized medicine.

Enough damage has been done that even a change of president and repeal of
Obamacare could not reverse enough of the damage, but could have slowed it
down. As it is, it is inevitable that my practice and those like it will be
unable to survive much longer in this climate. For me, it may be a door closing
as another opens to a larger ministry in Haiti, but many dedicated health
professionals will be struggling to serve their patients with integrity as the
system decays.

Therefore, I am sad. However, Mr. Obama
is my President for 4 more years, and I have respect for the office.
BUT . . . . GOD is my KING!
And JESUS CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR
And therein lies my “hope” for “change” and strength to go
“forward” . . . . .
Dr. T

49corvette

Thank You Sir—Eloquence and dedication and conviction such as this are an “uncommon commodity” nowadays—Keep on Keepin’ on—Thanx for reading

Prelutsky1540

Thank you, 49, for the thumbs-up. Much appreciated.

Burt

49corvette

The light that shines ( shone ) on this country just got dimmer—we’re driving on bald tires—but that’s OK because when we have a blowout in the middle of nowhere we can just use the free cellphone to call for the free tow truck and be covered by the free Auto Insurance that we are allowed to sign up for AFTER we have a claim—( Pre Existing condition of tires )—It’s all good—Thanx for reading

momcat1

My only hope is that in 4 years we won’t have a so-called rock star on the dem ticket so there will be less excitement and less turnout. If that happens maybe not all is lost.
I really feel that alot of the people, especially younger ones, who voted for obama don’t know what the presidency is all about and looked at him as more of a celebrity.

Prelutsky1540

momcat: Keep in mind that it’s blacks, Muslims and Hispanics, who are doing most of the breeding in America. The Democrats won’t need a rock star in 2016, just some mutt with a (D) after his name.

Burt

Deny916

As Rush said: “How can you defeat Santa Clause?” That’s what obummer is with all of his hand outs. By 10:00 PM (and more than a few Bailey’s on the rocks) I realized it was over. Heartbroken for sure. Here we had a chance to pull ourselves up by the boot straps and then they vote the other way. God only knows what the once proud and strong USA will look like after another 4 years of this bozo and his crew. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.

All I can say is 1,460 days till election 2016. Rubio (who I think will win) will have SO MUCH work to do.

Prelutsky1540

Deny: It appears that if Romney had chosen Rubio instead of Ryan, he might have won. But in a better and more sensible world, he should have been able to win with even me as his running mate.

Burt

souvoter

Like you, I too was optimistic, Burt but with Obama paying people not to work and the corrupt media doing it’s evil deeds by suppressing the truth, what recourse do we have?? FOX tried their level best, but allowing lying liberals to constantly bluster their warped views, solidified the casual viewers opinions from watching the lame stream media.

Prelutsky1540

Souvoter: Keep in mind that two million more Republicans voted for McCain than for Romney. Keep in mind that in spite of the media, ten million fewer people voted for Obama this time around, and he still won because of those lazy, ignorant Republicans.

Burt

RickonhisHarleyJohnson

I think Morris, like me, assumed the so-called independent voter would flip from 2-1 Obama to 2-1 Romney. In fact, there were 1.5 million less votes for Obama in the swing states in ’12 over ’08. The increase in those states of votes for Romney vs. McCain was only .5 million. Where were the independent voters that turned away from Obama? Did 1/2 of them not vote? That’s my guess.

Prelutsky1540

Rick: Forget the independents. Where were the Republicans?

Burt

Mark

Well said Burt. Your home state of California is a microcosm of the nation. The question is will California or the nation file for bankruptcy first.

Prelutsky1540

Mark–We’ve already had some cities file. But now that lemmings are allowed to vote here in California, Jerry Brown also got his way with increased income taxes and sales taxes.

Burt

Wheels55

Burt, we overestimated the common sense of Americans. We overestimated Americans’ desire to make this country exceptional again. We overestimated American’s understanding of the need for capitalism. The Rockerfellers, Fords and Jobs of this country did not do what they did to make America great. But what they did brought us greatness and the belief that we can do anything better than the rest of the world. I think that feeling has all but gone away with Obama and his liberal monkeys telling us that we are lazy and should not be wealthy.

Burt: Under normal circumstances, Romney’s campaign was more than enough to win. However, when the media deliberately elect to carry on a campaign of biased distortion and intentionally omit covering major malfeasance like Benghazi … then democracies (or if you like republics) are bound to falter.

The Obama gang and their cohorts in the media operated on the premise that perception is reality. They have created this perception of Obama the Great One … the national debt is no immediate concern … but as night follows day .. that perception will soon be shattered by the actual reality. Hopefully for America and the rest of the free world, that reckoning will not come too late.

To you and all your readers who love “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” let me congratulate you on a well fought battle and on behalf of the many Canadians who are deeply concerned by this electoral outcome … we will keep hoping that sanity will prevail in time.

Prelutsky1540

cma: I don’t even blame the media. After all, Obama received 10 million fewer votes than last time, but Romney received two million less than McCain.
I blame the lazy, ignorant, treasonous Republicans who stayed home.
While I’m at it, I blame the Tea Party for pushing goofs like Mourdock and Akin, giving Harry Reid even additional muscle in the Senate.

Burt

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